Dozer and loading attachment for tricycles



Jan. 8, 1957 v. H. STOVER 2,775,767

DOZER'AND LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR TRICYCLES Filed Jan. 28, 195 2Shee'ts-Sheet 1 F /'g./ a8

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Verne .Sfaver IN VEN TOR.

(wavy 16% Jan. 8, 1957 v. H. STOVER 2,776,767

DOZER AND LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR TRICYCLES Filed Jan. 28, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Verne H1 Sta ver INVENTOR.

United States Patent O DOZER ANDLOADING ATTACHMENT FOR TRICYCLES I VerneH. Stover, Postville, Iowa Application January 28, 1954, Serial No.406,820

2 Claims. (Cl. 214-140) This invention relates generally to childrenstoys and pertains more particularly to a device for attachment to achilds tricycle or the like. I

A primary object of this invention is to enhance the usefulness and thepleasure derived from use of a childs velocipede or similar vehicle byproviding therefor an attachment simulating a snow plow, bulldozer,loader or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment fortricycles in conformity with the foregoing objects in which provision ismade for manipulating the attachment in simulating actual attachments ofthe class described.

These together with other objects andadvantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a velocipede with a loaderattachment secured thereto;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane ofsection line 33 of Figure 2 showing details of the loader assembly on anenlarged scale;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the handle barportion of the velocipede showing the manner of maintaining the loaderin selected position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly shown in Figure4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a snow plow blade attachment inuse on an associated velocipede; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the flexiblechains showing the same on an enlarged scale.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10indicates generally the frame of a velocipede which has a seat member 12mounted thereon and which is provided at its rearward end with thetransverse axle 14 having the wheels 16 and 18. The fork housingindicated by the reference character 20 is carried by the forwardportion of the frame, and rotatably receives therein the fork assembly22 to which is journaled the dirigible wheel 24 in a manner wellunderstood and the upper end of the fork assembly is connected to thehandle bar device 26, all of the above described mechanism beingconventional and well understood, as are the pedal mechanisms 28. Therearward portion of the frame above the axle 14 may be provided with aplatform member 30, as desired, it being understood that the particularform of velocipede to which the hereinafter described attachment issecured is immaterial as regards the principle of the hereinafterdescribed invention.

A pair of strap-like elongated frame members indicated generally by thereference characters 32 and 34 are provided at their rearward ends withthe substantially V- ice shaped notches 36 for reception on the oppositeends of the axle 14 and are interposed between the hubs of the wheelmembers 16 and 18 and the thrust washers 38, the washers being retainedon the axle as by the cotter pins 40 or the like- The frame membersconsist of the rearward strap sections 42 and the forward strap sections44 provided at corresponding ends with a series of longitudinally spacedapertures 46 for reception of the fastening elements 48 so that theframe members are extensible, as will be apparent. The forward ends ofthe sections 44 are laterally inturned, as indicated by the referencecharacter 50 to present bracket portions for attachment to the generallyU-shaped yoke member 52 whose opposed leg portions 54 and 55 carry thepivot bolt members 58 and 60 pivotally securing the yoke member to amaterial engaging member or scoop indicated generally by the referencecharacter 62. This portion consists of an uppervertical plate portion 64and a lower horizontal plate portion 66 interconnected by theintermediate portion 68 and suitably braced between the portions 64 and66 as by the members 70, these members receiving the previouslydescribed pivot bolts 58 and 60.

A bracket 72' is secured on the rearward surface of the portion. 64 ofthe material engaging member and, as seen most clearly in Figure 3,spaced bracket cars 74 are suitably secured to a rear portion of theyoke member 52 and pivotally carry, through pin '76, the latching member78 which includes the finger portion 80 normally overlying the upperportion of the bracket '72 and preventing pivotal motion of the blade 62in the manner shown. The latching member is normally spring urged bymeans of the coil spring 82 disposed concentrically of an ear ,por-

tion 84 thereof and extending therebeyond into engagement with the bightportion 86 of the yoke assembly for normally urging the latching memberin the manner defined.

A flexible chain 88 is looped about the fork housing 20, the hook 90 atits free end being utilized for this purpose. A pulley member 91 issecuredv to the bight portion 86 of the yoke assembly 52 by means of theshort lengths of chain 92 and 94 secured at spaced points thereon andthe flexible chain 88 is entrained around the pulley member with itsopposite end directed over the handle bar 26 to terminate in a hand knob96 in the manner shown.

As seen most clearly in Figures 4 and 5, a bracket plate 98 is disposedbelow the handle bar gooseneck 100 and the upper bracket plate 102 isplaced thereabove with the two bracket portions interconnected by thefastening elements 194 for rigidly securing the bracket assembly to thehandle bar structure. The upper bracket plate 102 is provided with anupturned end portion 106 which has an irregularly shaped opening 18?therein with the upper portion of the opening being of larger diameterthan the lower portion thereof. top collars 110 and 112 are secured atselected points along the lengths of the chain 88, their points ofattachment being selective as provided for by the set screw members 114.The uppermost collar 110 is positioned so that when in the positionshown in Figure 4, the blade assembly 62 is just in engagement with theground surface and when the collar 112 is engaged through the bracketear 106, the brace assembly Will be suitably raised above the surface ofthe ground, it being understood that the collars are of such diametersthat they will pass through the uppermost portion of the opening 198 butwill not pass through the lowermost portion thereof. In this manner, achild sitting upon the seat assembly 12 can pull upon the handle knob 96to raise or lower the blade assembly as desired, the frame members 32and 34 pivoting about the axle 14. A guide ring 116 is carried by thepulley 91 and the operating rod 118 extends thercthrough for connectionwith the latching plate 78, the upper end of the rod 118 i beingprovided with the hand grip portion 120. When'the blade is in the raisedposition, a push on the actuating rod 118 will pivot the latching plate73 clockwise about pin 76 to release its engagement with the bracket 72to permit the blade assembly to pivot about pivot bolts 58 and 66 to anunloading or dumping position, as will be readily apparent.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 6 wherein a modified form ofmaterial engaging member or blade is shown, it will be noted that theframe members 32 and 34 are mounted as previously described, and thattheir portions 50 are connected directly to the arcuated blade member122, which blade member simulated a snow plow or dozer blade. The chainelements 124 and 126 are looped about the fork housing 26 for connectionat opposite upper corners of the blade 122 for supporting the blade inlight engagement with the ground surface, the turnbuckle assemblies 128being interposed in the chains I24 and 126 to adjust the over-all lengththereof. The pulley 130 is suitably secured centrally along the upperedge of the blade member, and the previously described lifting chainmember 83 is entrained thereabout. In this form of the attachment, itwill be appreciated that although there is no provision for an unloadingmotion of the blade assembly, the same can be manipulated in much thesame manner as ordinary snow plows, that is, the blade may be moved inan arcuate vertical direction for piling material being moved, in thisrespect, the attachment also simulating a bulldozer assembly.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An attachment for tricycles having a pair of rear spaced, axlesupporting wheels and a dirigible front wheel connected to handle barmechanism, said attachment comprising a pair of elongated frame memberspivotally receivable at their respective rearward ends on said axle ofthe rear wheels and extending forwardly thereof beyond said dirigiblewheel, a material engaging member carried at the forward ends of saidframe members, and means accessible to an operator of the tricycle forraising and lowering said material engaging member, said meanscomprising a pulley operatively connected to said frame members, aflexible element secured at one end to the tricycle extending therefromaround said pulley to a point of selective attachment to said handle barmechanism.

2. An attachment for tricycles having a pair of spaced, rear axlesupporting wheels and a dirigible front wheel connected to handle barmechanism, comprising a pair of elongated frame members pivotallyreceivable at their respective rear ends on the rear axle of saidtricycle and extending forwardly thereof beyond said dirigible wheel, amaterial engaging member carried at the forward ends of said framemembers, and means accessible to an operator of the tricycle for raisingand lowering said material engaging member, said means comprising apulley operatively connected to said frame member, a flexible elementsecured at one end to the tricycle extending therefrom around saidpulley to a point of selective attachment to said handle bar mechanism,said material receiving member including a yoke member secured to saidframe members and a material receiving portion pivotally carriedthereby, said material receiving portion being pivotable between aloading and 'an unloading position, and means for selectively latchingthe material receiving portionin the loading position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,389,928 Pasker Nov. 27, 1945 2,455,692 McDunuah Dec. 7, 1948 2,643,783Tasset June 30, 1953

